Today's writing is about "WHY THERE IS SUFFERING" and is written by Jan Andersen. She uses the life of Job as an example of how a righteous person deals with suffering, and how the usual explanations don't always suffice. Read below to find out if God causes us to suffer and what to do about it.
May you have a blessed Sunday filled with faith and trust.
Blessings,
Jan and Corinne
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Today's Devotional
Written by
Jan Andersen
"WHY THERE IS SUFFERING"
These questions have been asked again and again: If God is all-powerful and loving, why does he let people suffer? Why doesn't God intervene to stop painful things from happening? Why do bad things happen to good people?
We must realize that in a perfect world there would be no sin and no suffering. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, they brought suffering into the world as a consequence. Sin and suffering on earth are a result of Satan's temptations and human weakness and free will. We all inherit that sinfulness/weakness. God doesn't cause suffering, Satan does. Sometimes God allows it to occur so he can use it for a certain result. It is possible that God is disciplining, refining, or pruning those that he loves. Even a loving parent knows that disciplining of their child is sometimes necessary. To improve a precious metal, one must refine it by holding it in a hot fire to burn out the impurities. The gardener is well aware that to improve a vine's production, it must be carefully pruned or cut back. Each of these things are a metaphor in scripture for God allowing us to suffer in order to improve or become more like him. In doing that, we can become better witnesses of him to others on earth and serve him better out of thanks for his free gift of forgiveness and salvation in Christ. He works all things for good for those who love him. But sometimes there just simply isn’t any explanation that makes sense to us. It is then that we must simply trust that God is greater than we are and rely on him to carry us through.
Job was a perfect example of all this. He was a righteous man, but God allowed Satan to take away most of his blessings, including allowing his family to die, and his wealth and health to be taken away. Job started out praising God in spite of his suffering. As it went on and on for many months, he began to falter and wish that he were dead. Eventually he had friends who were trying to console him saying he must confess whatever sinfulness had brought this on him. Job realized this was not why he was suffering and started praising God more clearly again. He even foretold the coming of Jesus when he said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." in Job 19:25. And even Jesus suffered while on earth, for a purpose.
God spoke to directly to Job for quite some time (Job 38 through 41, four chapters worth!) God never directly answered Job's questions about why this was all happening to him. However, God reminded Job of his humanness and limited understanding of all that God knows and intends and allows to happen. Job was reassured about God's almighty power in how he not only created the world and all that is in it, but also how God has the ability to control everything on earth with just a spoken word. Job's faith was bolstered and he realized he just needed to trust God.
Job 38:4-13 and 42:1-6 (NIV) [God said to Job:] "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt' ? Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?” ... Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted… Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I repent…”
(listen to the song below paraphrase these verses, My Redeemer Lives, by Nicole C. Mullen)
Dear Father in heaven, wonderful creator of all things, thank you for always helping us through our difficulties and for your gracious forgiveness when we forget to trust you. When we are in the midst of suffering, may we be as faithful as Job by the power of your Spirit. Even when we see no end to our problems here on earth, may we look ahead to our glorious joining with you and your son, Jesus, in heaven where all suffering will be gone and you will wipe every tear from our eyes. Help us to share this good news with others while we remain on this earth. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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"My Redeemer Lives"
by Nicole C. Mullen
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Sometimes suffering is beyond our understanding, but we trust in our almighty God to shine through our clouds!
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Sometimes suffering is beyond our understanding, but we trust in our almighty God to shine through our clouds!
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Prayers are lifted up daily for you
by the Staff Writers of
Women's Focus Ministry
Jan Andersen, Cathy Friberg, Sandy Billingham, Beverley Napier, Shelly Keith,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Carol Steficek, Amie Spruiell, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Lisabeth Lipp, Nandita Bhatnagar.
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